Program targets phone tower concerns

A "package of initiatives" has been announced aimed at improving how mobile phone towers are deployed.

Helen Coonan, Minister for Communications, IT and the Arts, said some communities and individuals were concerned about the actions of carriers in installing mobile phone towers.

"The initiatives include improved community notification requirements, increased public education, improving the look and design of towers, independent audits of electromagnetic emissions (EME) from towers, and a new EME reporting framework," said Coonan in a statement.

"The carriers have also given an undertaking to avoid placing a tower on single residential dwellings without the approval of the landowner."

Coonan said she had asked the Mobile Carriers Forum -- representing Hutchison, Optus, Telstra and Vodafone -- to consider further initiatives to minimise the impact on residential properties.